100 Things I Learned in 2004, Part 1

I feel about New Year’s resolutions the same way I feel about New Year’s parties: in my experience they are neither especially useful nor particularly enjoyable, so why bother?

However, there is something to be said for marking the passage of time. Generally, I’m a fan of using one’s birthday to do this, coming as it does with a ready-made excuse not only for people to party, but to do so specifically in your honor at the place of your choosing bearing gifts for you.

I’m also a big fan of listmaking, and the annual odometer roll is as great an opportunity to look backward over what’s gone down as it is forward to what one might like to experience.